Florida Gulf Coast University held a vigil Tuesday night for the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting that happened last week. Seventeen students and adults were killed. This vigil was planned days earlier - yet happened hours after the Florida legislature voted down a motion to consider a ban on certain assault weapons.
On the windy evening, 17 electronic candles were held while the names of those killed were read aloud.
Mikaela Silva held a candle. She’s one of a number of FGCU students who went to Stoneman Douglas. She graduated in 2016
She said her years at the Parkland high school were the best four years of her life. Last Wednesday, Silva said she found out seven people she knew died. One was football coach and security guard, Aaron Fies.
“I was a drama student and Aaron Feis was like our best friend. He was there to lock the door at the end of our late night practices. He was there to open the gate so I could help teachers around the school," Silva said. "And to know that when I go back there to help drama, he’s not going to be there—it breaks my heart.”
According to witnesses, Feis died shielding students from bullets.
Hours before the vigil, Florida House Democrats motioned to introduce a bill that would ban assault weapons—like the one used at last weeks Valentine’s Day shooting—in the state.
And with Stoneman Douglas students in the gallery of the chamber, Florida House members voted on wether or not to take up the motion.
Florida House Republicans overwhelmingly voted to not debate on the weapons ban.
Florida state House votes 36-71 against motion to hear bill banning assault rifles, effectively killing the measure. https://t.co/GR3bAZGVBh
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 20, 2018
FGCU student Kelsey Maingot also attended Stoneman Douglas. She went home this past weekend and said there are flowers, pictures, news vans and police surrounding her alma mater. Maingot said she does not want to get into politics, but she said those in power need to act.
“Parkland is not going to stop until we see a change," Maingot said. "Until someone in our White House and our congress and our government who are supposed to be protecting us makes a change.”
Silva, who knew Feis—the coach and security guard who died shielding—said she thinks she knows why her former classmates are so engaged about reforming gun laws. In the front gate of the school, she said there’s a familiarly inspiring quote.
“It’s a sign that says be the change you want to see in the world," Silva said. "And that’s what we’re going to be.”
Towards the end of the vigil, FGCU’s choir sang a song introduced as a piece that carries a message of healing, peace and hope
